Chris Carter, Houston Dump Blue Jays, 8-2; Jordan Zimmermann, Anthony Rendon Lead Nats over Phils, 11-0

Players of the Day for Saturday, August 2, 2014

American League

Carter: 22 HRs

With the Orioles losing to Seattle, 6-3, the Toronto Blue Jays had an opportunity to cut into Baltimore's lead in the AL East, but they were unable to do so, losing to the lowly Housto Astros, 8-2.

Chris Carter singled, doubled and homered in four at-bats, stole a base, scored three times and drove in two runs, leading the Astros to their second straight win over Toronto.

Carter's home run was his 22nd, tying him with Detroit's Victor Martinez for 8th place in the AL long ball department.

Toronto opened with a 6-5 win on Thursday in Houston, but has dropped the last two, losing, 3-1, on Friday and currently trails Baltimore by 2 1/2 games.

Zimmermann: 7-5

The series ends Sunday afternoon. Game time at Minute Maid Park is 2:10 pm EDT.

National League

Rendon: 3-5, 4RBI

Jordan Zimmermann blanked the Phillies over seven innings and Anthony Rendon delivered the goods at the plate, as the Washington Nationals hammered Philadelphia, 11-0, taking a 2 1/2 game lead over Atlanta, losers of five straight.

Having lost the first two games of their home series hosting the Phillies, the Nats weren't exactly looking like division leaders until Zimmermann took the mound, giving up five hits without a walk and striking out eight. The Nationals scored all of their runs in the first four innings, so stretching Zimmermann (7-5) past seven innings and 97 pitches (71 for strikes) was pointless.

Rendon hammered a three-run homer in the second inning off Philly starter, A.J. Burnett, who lasted just 1 2/3 innings. Not satisfied, Rendon doubled and singled, finishing 3-for-5, with four RBI, a stolen base and a pair of runs.

Washington will try to salvage a tie in the four-game series on Sunday at 1:35 pm EDT.